Ephesians, 5

1. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

1. As most beloved children of God, strive to imitate him.

2. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

2. Follow the way of love, the example of Christ who loved you. He gave himself up for us and became the offering and sacrificial victim whose fragrance rises to God.

3. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

3. And since you are holy, there must not be among you even a hint of sexual immorality or greed, or any kind of impurity: these should not be named among you.

4. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

4. So too for scandalous words, nonsense and foolishness, which are not fitting; instead offer thanksgiving to God.

5. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

5. Know this: no depraved, impure or covetous person who serves the god 'Money' shall have part in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

6. Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for these are the sins which God is about to condemn in people who do not obey.

7. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

7. Do not associate with such people.

8. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

8. You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Behave as children of light;

9. (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

9. the fruits of light are kindness, justice and truth in every form.

10. Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

10. You yourselves search out what pleases the Lord,

11. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].

11. and take no part in works of darkness that are of no benefit; expose them instead.

12. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

12. Indeed it is a shame even to speak of what those people do in secret,

13. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

13. but as soon as it is exposed to the light, everything becomes clear.

14. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

14. And what has become clear becomes light. Therefore it is said: "Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead that the light of Christ may shine on you."

15. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

15. Pay attention to how you behave. Do not live as the unwise do, but as responsible persons.

16. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

16. Try to make good use of the present time, because these days are evil.

17. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is].

17. So do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is.

18. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

18. Do not get drunk: wine leads to levity; but be filled with the Holy Spirit.

19. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

19. Gather together to pray with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and celebrate the Lord in your heart,

20. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

20. giving thanks to God the Father in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord, always and for everything.

21. Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

21. Let all kinds of submission to one another become obedience to Christ.

22. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

22. So wives to their husbands: as to the Lord.

23. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

23. The husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head of the Church, his body, of whom he is also the Savior.

24. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in every thing.

24. And as the Church submits to Christ, so let a wife submit in everything to her husband.

25. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

25. As for you, husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her.

26. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

26. He washed her and made her holy by baptism in the Word.

27. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

27. As he wanted a radiant Church without stain or wrinkle or any blemish, but holy and blameless, he himself had to prepare and present her to himself.

28. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

28. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

29. And no one has ever hated his body; he feeds and takes care of it. That is just what Christ does for the Church,

30. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

30. because we are a part of his body.

31. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

31. Scripture says: Because of this a man shall leave his father and mother to be united with his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.

32. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

32. This is a very great mystery, and I refer to Christ and the Church.

33. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife [see] that she reverence [her] husband.

33. As for you, let each one love his wife as himself, and let the wife respect her husband.